Nothing was known of the real reason for his disordered retreat, beyond the fact that he had been in Plattville on the morning before his withdrawal and had issued from a visit to the "Herald" office in a state of palsy.

Mr.Parker, the Rouen printer, had been present at the close of the interview; but he held his peace at the command of his employer.

He had been called into the sanctum, and had found McCune, white and shaking, leaning on the desk.
"Parker," said the editor, exhibiting a bundle of papers he held in his hand, "I want you to witness a verbal contract between Mr.McCune and myself.

These papers are an affidavit and copies of some records of a street-car company which obtained a charter while Mr McCune was in the State legislature.

They were sent to me by a man I do not know, an anonymous friend of Mr.McCune's; in fact, a friend he seems to have lost.